It got to stop somewhere

It’s been bothering me for a long time, to be precise after passing school (since 1996). I have seen it, I have felt it, I have hated it, at times it has exposed best of man, at other times it has shown worst of man, in a moment it can make a sane person insane, in a moment it can destroy years of trust, faith and brotherhood.
If I have already got you thinking what it is then let me tell you it’s not “LOVE” (specially when you and your friend aim the same person! )

Well, what I had in mind was “religious intolerance and discrimination”. Something, so potent and nefarious that it can destroy whole humanity in a blink. I believe, this intolerance is the only prominent thing that has kept on doubling along with human population. And this very fact is bothering and puzzling! How come this monster that we should have obliterated a hundred years ago, still lingers among us with unchecked ferocity.

I guess when we were in schools we hardly bothered about it, we used to eat, play, fight and if time permitting, study together. There was never a barrier. And I consider my self fortunate enough that I studied in Kendriya Vidyalaya Schools that truly represents Indian diversity. While in school the “religion” was never an issue. As of me, I used to think people who have nothing worthwhile to do, deliberate on this boring issue. I was aloof, even the 1992 event was alien to me( I guess, we were not that informed as compared to today’s 24X7 news network and twittering generation).

And then came college. It was not at all a dream world that I had illusions about when in school. The “monster” was about to rise and even before I could get admitted to a college. What struck me was the audacity with which these colleges never hesitated in exposing their religious bigotry. As an Indian one has the constitutionally enshrined right to seek and get admission in any college as long as one has the necessary marks. But who cares about constitution and the fools who wrote it. It was right there in the application form – “Religion: _______ and Caste ______”. That single piece of information can decide ones fate. That single piece of information is the politically correct “Differentiator”. Hell, I say that’s plain discrimination. I would say, it’s our collective failure that the column still exists.

I became furious in no small quantity when I noticed that dreaded column in my son’s school admission form. In 2010, I wrote in my son’s school application his religion and caste. Alas his nationality of being “Indian” was not enough even at this stage. It got to stop somewhere at least on application forms to begin with.

India and Indian sub continent at large has been home to thousand faiths. Since time immemorial the faith differences among its people never stopped populations to co-exist. It’s the last few hundred years of disillusionment that has pushed us this far. Tragedy is this, that not even sane preaching of Swami Vivekananda, Sri Ramkrishna and Bhagat Singh could deter us form our self-destructive instincts. Men like them gave their lives, and to prove that they were lunatics, our esteemed government authorized census of “Caste” too. Next what, size of citizen’s bums so that planning commission can build statistics on the percentage of fat asses! (I guess I just gave them the clue).

I am pained when during a cricket match, one section within India celebrates India’s defeat. When within India people can’t hoist national flag. When people hide in fear. When people dread discrimination. When color of saffron and green dehumanizes color red. I can’t fathom it. Some people tell me that my loony concept of secularism is all childish, out there it doesn’t work. True, on many occasions I have found it hard to give them an answer.

But now I guess I have got an answer, I think so. The answer lies in the upbringing or the environment in which the mind grows. The stone palters have lived their entire life under guns. There are people who have spent their entire life hating and blaming. People who have been raised on doses of hatred can’t be expected to act rationally but others can.

My school never discriminated me on religion, my teachers never discriminated me on religion, my friends never discriminated me on religion, my father’s friend never discriminated me on religion. When a mind grows under discrimination it will lead to discrimination. Similarly, if a mind grows free of discrimination it will always lead to co-existence.

India is secular not because “few people need it” but because “many people want it”. India is and will main secular because large sections of Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians and followers of other faiths want it, and it is not only just because of our constitution, because it is reflection of our inheritance, because it was the guiding principle for our freedom struggle, and even eons before that it was imbibed in our culture. The two words that great sages gave us “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (whole world is one single family). The optimist inside me believes that irrespective of vendetta of few poisonous minds, a few political opportunists, a few misguided and disgruntled lot, the bond that binds us shall prevail.


I can’t put a timeframe when intolerance and discrimination will end but there is something I can do for sure, and that is to give my son (and to his friends too) the environment to grow without discrimination. I owe it to him. If not, whole of his life but at least till he finishes school. After that he will be mature enough to find answers for himself.

And where do I start? Well … that dreaded column on my son’s school admission form. I am going to leave it blank. And will ask the school to remove it or the least make it optional. That’s my one point to be raised during Parent-Teacher meeting 2011. My belief is reason enough to give it a try.

“People fight on religion when God has exited their minds”